The death toll from a landslide in China's Gansu Province has risen following heavy rains that struck Weiyuan County in Dingxi City on July 26. Initial reports had confirmed 10 fatalities in the wake of the torrential weather.
In response to the tragedy, the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief has requested investigations and assessments from the Gansu provincial authorities, Xinhua reported. Local officials have issued warnings regarding the potential for further landslides, particularly in the Dingxi region, as the area remains in the midst of its annual flood season.
The extreme weather is not confined to Gansu. China's national weather observatory has issued alerts for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and high winds spanning from the southwest to the northeast of the country, with Beijing and Inner Mongolia also under weather warnings as of Sunday.
Large portions of Sichuan are experiencing ongoing heavy and sometimes torrential rainfall. State broadcaster CCTV reported that 64,609 people have been evacuated in the province, contributing to a total of more than 881,000 residents who have been relocated since the start of the annual flood season.
Looking ahead, the national observatory has warned that Super Typhoon Dolphin is currently tracking toward East Asia from the western Pacific. The storm is expected to begin affecting China's southeast coastal regions starting Wednesday.
